Reverser switch

Abstract

An auxiliary reverser switch for a vehicle which includes a housing mounted in the vehicle in proximity to the operator and having a lever for selecting FORWARD, NEUTRAL and REVERSE positions for vehicle movement. The reverser switch is in addition to a standard range controller having a PARK and other positions and overrides control by the range controller only when a solenoid electrically connected in series with the ignition switch, the range controller, and the reverser switch is energized. The lever is mechanically connected to a rotor which breaks and establishes electrical contact to determine the direction of vehicle travel. The switch is self-canceling in that the lever is automatically returned to a HOME position displaced from the NEUTRAL position upon movement of the range controller to the PARK position or turning off the ignition switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An auxiliary reverser switch arrangement for a vehicle having a conventional ignition system ON and OFF positions and a standard range controller having a plurality of positions including a PARK position comprising a housing mounted on the steering column of said vehicle, a solenoid disposed in said housing a plurality of switch terminals mounted in said housing, a rotor disposed for lateral rotation in said housing and having switch wipers cooperating with a first plurality of said switch terminals to make and break electrical circuits controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle and with a second plurality of said terminals to energize said solenoid in series with said ignition system and said standard range controller, and a manually operable lever having FORWARD, REVERSE and NEUTRAL positions and a HOME position displaced from said NEUTRAL position, said lever being mechanically connected to said rotor, travel of said vehicle being in accordance with said lever positions only during energization of said solenoid after turning said ignition to said ON position and placement of said range controller in a position other than PARK. 
     
     
       2. An auxiliary reverser switch arrangement for a vehicle as defined in claim 1 further including a torsion spring bearing on and normally retaining said rotor in a position in which said lever is in a NEUTRAL position and a compression spring normally urging said lever into said HOME position, said lever being manually movable from said HOME position to said NEUTRAL position. 
     
     
       3. An auxiliary reverser switch arrangement for a vehicle as defined in claim 2 further including means supporting said rotor for said lateral rotation in said housing, said supporting means including a first roller mounted beneath said rotor and a second roller mounted above said rotor, said second roller being movable relative to said rotor and being urged toward said housing by said compression spring, said housing having an internal groove formed therein to accept said second roller when said lever is in said HOME position.